Higher Education Challenge Grants Program | USDA NIFA CGP 010433

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 010433

The Higher Education Challenge Grants (HEC) Program is a competitive grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds higher-education projects in the food and agricultural sciences. The program is designed to support projects that tackle an educational need at the state, regional, national, or even international level, especially where the work can make a broader impact than a single campus or audience. A strong proposal is expected to use a creative or non-traditional approach and produce results that can be replicated or adapted elsewhere, meaning the project should function as a practical model that other institutions or programs could follow.

A central emphasis of the HEC Program is collaboration and capacity-building across the higher education ecosystem. Projects are expected to improve working relationships within the university science and education community and also strengthen ties between universities and the private sector. In practice, this means proposals that bring together multiple departments, institutions, industry partners, or other organizations to improve program quality and stretch available resources tend to align well with the program intent. Another key expectation is lasting value: NIFA is looking for outcomes that continue beyond the award period, so applicants should think in terms of sustainable curricula, enduring partnerships, scalable teaching resources, institutionalized training models, or other long-term improvements that do not disappear when USDA funding ends.

Eligibility is limited to institutions that can demonstrate the ability to teach in the food and agricultural sciences and that meet the RFA's definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization (referenced in the opportunity as Appendix III). Applications may be submitted by U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one food or agricultural sciences discipline. Land-grant universities, including land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas, are explicitly eligible, as are colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments that can demonstrate capacity to conduct teaching in the relevant fields. Other colleges and universities may also qualify if they can demonstrate the same instructional capacity. Importantly, individual branches within a state university or higher education system can be treated as separate eligible applicants only if they are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions; campuses that are not independently accredited are not treated as separate institutions for this program. The opportunity also notes that a research foundation maintained by an eligible college or university may be considered an eligible institution, provided the accreditation is by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

On personnel and participant eligibility, the program states that U.S. citizenship is not required for faculty serving as the Project Director (PD), co-PD, or other key personnel. However, individuals who receive Federal funds for developmental activities must be U.S. citizens or nationals as defined in the RFA. The announcement repeatedly stresses that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award even if the proposal is reviewed, so institutions typically need to verify eligibility details early.

The notice also includes a condition specific to CG1 and CG2 applicants: the primary applicant institution must meet the regulatory definition of "eligible institution" in 7 CFR 3405.2(i). For projects involving partners under CG1 and CG2, participating institutions do not necessarily need to meet that same definition, and they also do not have to meet the definitions of "college" or "university" in 7 CFR 3405.2(f). In addition, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those organizations are needed to carry out the project, which gives applicants flexibility to include specialized partners such as nonprofits, industry entities, or service providers.

From the posted source details, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Agriculture funding activity category (CFDA 10.217) administered by USDA NIFA. The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA CGP 010433. The original closing date listed is 2024-03-05. The award ceiling is $750,000, and NIFA anticipates making about 18 awards, indicating a competitive program with relatively substantial per-project funding for higher education innovation and partnership-based efforts in the food and agricultural sciences.

• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education Challenge Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.217.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 010433

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